School-desk



(No Model.) 3 Sheet She'et 1.

0. B. TOWLEQ SUHOOE DESK.

No. 409,884. Patented Aug. 27, 1889.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. B. TOWLE.

SOHOOL'DESK.

1%.. 409,884. Patented Ail 27, 1889.

N. PEIERS Pholo-L'rlhogmphun Washington. u n.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

O. B. TOWLE.

SCHOOL DESK.

No. 409,884. Patented Aug. 2'7, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEIcE.

CHARLES B. TOIVLE, OF VALLEJO, CALIFORNIA.

SCHOOL-DESK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 409,884, dated August27, 1889.

Application filed April 10, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

I30 it known that I, CHARLES E. ToWLE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Vallejo, countyof Solano, State of California, haveinvented an Improvement in School-Desks; and I hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invent-ion relates to the class of schooldesks; and myinventionconsists in the novel details of construction and arrangementhereinafter fully described, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The objects of my invention are to provide simple, effective, andaccurate connections between the sliding and the fixed top of the desk,whereby a suitable space maybe formed between the two tops, and wherebythe former may be readily moved and limited in its movement; to providea simple and effective seat-connection whereby the seat may be raisedand lowered; to provide simple and effective connections for thefoot-rest, whereby said foot-rest may be readily put in place andadjusted to different positions and to different angles, and to providea simple and 1 effective seat-hinge. 0

Referring to the accompanying drawings for a more complete explanationof my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my desk. Fig. 2 is anelevation of the inner surface of one of the sides A, showing in sectionthe foot-rest I in position. Fig. 3 is a part section and part frontelevation showing the connection of the tops. Fig. 45 represents thestops by which the movement of the desktop is limited. Fig. 5 is aviewin perspec tive of the under side of the foot-rest. Fig. 6 is a sideView of the seat hinging and adjusting mechanism. Fig. 7 is aplan of oneof the seat-connections, with the standard A in section.

A are the sides of the desk-frame, upon and between the tops of which issupported the fixed top B, below which is the receptacle 0, access towhich is had through an opening (unnecessary herein to show) in theupper portion of the fixed top.

D is the sliding top, located above the fixed top and adapted to bemoved to or from the person in order to uncover and to cover the books,(to.

Serial No. 306,724. (No moiel.)

entrance aperture or opening to receptacle 0, to disclose and cover anyother underlying receptacle, compartment, or devicesuch as a frame orbracket for pens, pencils, and inkwell-and to serve when drawn out as anarmrest for the user of the desk. Between the two tops a space is formedin which may be placed suitable articles, such as paper, rulers, Thenovelty in this part of my invention lies in the connections between thetwo tops, said connections being of such a nature as to provide a spacebetween them of suitable height adapted for the reception of any articlewhich it may be found convenient to place in it, and also to allow thesliding top to move easily and accurately on the fixed top and to limitits movement at the points desired. To this end I connect with the sidebars of the fixed top by any suitable connectionas by the dovetail jointhere shownthe cleats b, and I connect similarly with the sides of thesliding top the runners d. runners lie and are adapted to move upon thecleats, and they are adj ustably connected I by the following means:

E are guide-bars, preferably made of metal. These bars when in completecross-section have the double-flange or T shape shown. They are rigidlysecured in runners d, and

they play freely enough in the cleats b to slide accurately therein,accompanying the sliding top D in its movement. They are fitted to theirseats in both cleats and runners by making correspondingly-shapedsockets in said parts, said bars being driven firmly into the runners soas to secure them thereto.

blocks 11 are placed at asuitable point in the outer or lower portion ofthe sockets in cleats I), but only in one side of said sockets, and thecorresponding side flange of the guide-bars E of a given section orsections of said bars is cut out or omitted originally,

as shown at e, leaving a shoulder c in said bars or the upper sectionsthereof, said shoul- The 'or omitted flange of said bars permittingtheir passage by the fixed stop cushion-blocks 12 until, the limit ofoutward movement being reached, the shoulders e of said guide-bars comein contact with stop-blocks b and arrest the sliding top and hold it inits drawnout position. Upon the inward movement the bars E move freelyup until their upper or inner ends come in contact with stop-blocks b inthe head of the sockets of cleats b,thereby limiting inward movement ofthe sliding top. Thus both objects are attained. The first-namedtheprovision of suitable space between the topsis gained by making thefixed cleats has high as may be desired, so that the runners (Z of thesliding top may remain small enough to satisfy all the requirements ofstrength, lightness, compactness, and appearance; and the secondobject-namely, the provision of accurate motion, ease of movement,andits properlimitation-is gained by the employment of the connectingguidebars and the stops. This shape of guide-bars E provides forasubstantial bearing, and its pressure in the runner is so uniform andin all directions that when pressure is brought upon the sliding topthebars will not have a tend ency to split the runners or separate theirparts when said runners are made sectional.

The adjustable connect-ion for the seat is i as follows: In the sides Aof the frame are made the ratchet-teeth a, one set being on the frontedge of said sides, and a second set being in the forward edge of a slota, made in said sides, the slot leaving a bearing a forming its backwall.

F are the brackets, to which the seat G is connected in a mannerpresently to be described. The brackets F are formed on their outer sidewith bearing-plates f, the inner faces of which are grooved out at f,and said plates are separated by a space sufficient to allow them topass by both sets of ratchetteeth when the bracket is fitted to the sideA. This fitting is done by holding the inner edges of the bearing-platesparallel with the edges in which the teeth are formed. Then when theplates have passed the teeth, the brackets are dropped to approximatelya horizontal plane, in which position the teeth enter the grooved facesf of the plates, a tooth of the forward set engaging under the bottomof, the forward grooved faces, and a tooth of the rear set engaging onthe top of the back grooved faces, whereby the brackets are held firmly.

Lateral or side motion of the brackets is prevented by thebearing-plates f overlapthe upper inner portion of the back platesoverlapping the sides just forward of the slots to, and the lower outerportion of said back plates overlapping the strips a which said stripsthus act as bearings as well as strengthening pieces. These platestherefore hold the brackets steady.

Now, in order to lock the brackets in any position to which they may beadjusted, I have the independent removable strip H, which fits acrossthe frame-front and serves as a joining-piece between the seat and deskback. This strip has secured to each end the toothed irons or pawlsh,which are adapted to enter the triangular space which is formedbetween the upper portion of the groovedfaced forward bearing-plates andthe front edges of the desk-sides, and the pawls fill this space andtheir teeth engage the forward ratchet-teeth of the sides A, thuspreventing the brackets F from being moved.

In order to vertically move the seat G, the removable strip H is liftedout, so as to remove its pawls. Then the brackets are raised to aninclined position to free the plate-faces of the ratchet-teeth,whereupon they may be raised or lowered. When in required position, theyare dropped to their engagement and the strip H replaced with its pawlsin position.

The seat G is hinged to the brackets F by the following connections:Links g arepivoted to the inner or rear ends of the seatirous g and tothe inner or rear ends of the brackets F. Shorter links g are pivoted tothe seat-iron g at points farther forward than the pivotal connectionsof the links g, and the inner or rear ends of said shorter links arepivoted to the forward or outer ends of brackets F and at points inplanes higher than the pivotal connections of links gwith the inner endsof said brackets. Fixed stops g are secured to or formed with thebrackets F on their inner surfaces, and against these stops the irons gare adapted to come in contact to limit and hold the seat in positionfor use.

The connections of the links g and g are with the inner surfaces of thebrackets F, and the seat is made of a width adapting it to play up anddown between the forward projecting ends of the brackets. The effect ofthese connections on the-seat is that when the seat is turned to avertical position out of the way its inner end drops downwardly, itsouter end rises, and the whole seat moves backwardly close up to thestrip H. When moved to a position for use, the inner end moves upwardlyand forwardly, clearing the lower edge of strip H, until the seat-ironsg are limited by the fixed stops g which hold the seat firmly inposition. All the parts being connected with the brackets F, the seat ismoved up and down with said brackets, as heretofore described. The linksg and may be arranged to allow the seat to take positions, when folded,lower or higher, as may be desired. The positions in this respect dependupon the relative length of the links. \Vhen folded, the seat is nearlybalanced, and will remain in that position, but may be easily moved toposition for use. The links will hold the seat in any position.

The means for connecting and adjusting the foot-rest are as follows: Iis the foot-rest, having secured underneath it and extending its length,or only at each end, a bar QT. In one side A of the desk, on its innersurface, are formed, in vertical series and at a suitable inclination,the ledges J, those in each line having spaces or openings j betweenthem of a width sufficient to allow the foot rest bar 1' to snugly liebetween them. Openings K are made through the side A above each line ofledges, said openings having offsets 7; above each space or opening j inthe ledge-lines. In the other side A of the desk, on its inner surface,are formed ledges, also designated by J, and in series corresponding tothe ledges J on the opposite side, and having spaces or openings jbetween ledges in each line. Above each line of ledges in this side A isa guard-flange L, separated from the ledge below by a space sufficientto allow the foot-rest to fit snugly between them.

To fit the foot-rost to place, one end is passed through an opening K inthe first side A, its bar f passing through the offset 7t in saidopening. It is pushed through far enough to allow the outer end to bebroughtinside of the other side A, so that its end will rest upon aledgeJ on said side fitting the space between the ledge and the flange Labove, its bar 1 fitting in the space j between the ledge-sections. Thenthe first end is dropped down, its bar 1' fitting in space j and its endresting on the ledge-sections. The bar ithus holds the footrest in placeand prevents it from being moved forward or back; nor can the foot-restbe lifted at one end, for it is confined by the flange L. To remove it,the foot-rest must be lifted at its other end, so as to bring it in linewith opening K and offset 7:, whereupon it may be moved sidewise to freeits first end, which, being drawn out, disengages the other end.

The openings K should be no more than enough to allow the foot-rest topass through them, so that the hand must be used to move the foot-restout of place, or so that the foot, carelessly lifting the end of thefoot-rest, will not cause it to fall to the floor. The offsets 7c ofsaid openings should be deep enough and wide enough for the free passageof the footrest bar 41, and to allow the foot-rest to be turned or swungpart wayaround when taking it out or putting it in. The uppermost of theledges on each side are alike. They are for the purpose of putting thefoot-rest up out of the way for sweeping. To insert the foot-rest onthese top-ledges, it is to be pushed into place at both ends until itsbar 1' drops into the space j between the ledge-sections.

There may be as many ledges and sections thereof as may be founddesirable, and the foot-rest may thus be placed in different positionsto suit any given scholar.

A further point of novelty in connection with the foot-rest adjustmentlies in the different inclinations of each line of ledges J. It Will beseen that the angle which they form with a horizontal plane is greatestin the low est ledge-line, which is also the farthest forward, and theangle of inclination decreases in each line of the vertical series. Theobject of this is to vary the inclination of the footrest according toits position, both as to height and proximately to the scholar, theangle being greater the farther removed and the lower its position andless as it is moved higher and nearer. This results in the greatestconvenience and comfort to the scholar.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a school-desk, the fixed top, and the slidingtop separatedtherefrom to form a receptacle, in combination with the fixed sidecleats, the runners secured to the sliding top and resting and moving onthe side cleats, and guide-bars between the runners and side cleats,substantially as described.

2. In a school-desk, the fixed top, and the sliding top separatedtherefrom to form a receptacle, in combination with the fixed sidecleats, the runners secured to the sliding top and resting and moving onthe side cleats, and flanged guide-bars connecting the cleats andrunners, substantially as described.

3. In a school-desk, the fixed top, and the sliding top separatedtherefrom and forming a receptacle, in combination with the fixed sidecleats, the runners secured to thesliding top and resting and moving onthe side cleats, and guide-bars secured in the runners and adapted tofit and move in a groove in the side cleats, whereby said runners andcleats are connected, said guide-bars having doubleflanged portions,substantially as described.

4:. In a school-desk, the fixed top and the sliding top, in combinationwith the fixed side cleats, the runners secured to the sliding top andresting and moving on the side cleats, whereby a suitable space isformed between the two tops, guide-bars secured in the runners andadapted to fit and move in grooves in the side cleats, and having one oftheir flanges cut away to form a shoulder, and stops in said groovesagainst which the shoulder of the guide-bars come in contact to limitthe movement of the sliding top, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a fixed and a sliding part, the doubleflangedguide-bar fixed in the sliding part and movable in the fixed part, saidbar having one of its flanges cut away or omitted for a certaindistance, forming a stop-shoulder, and a fixed stop in the fixed partagainst which said shoulder comes in contact to limit the movement ofthe sliding part, substantially as described.

ITO

6. In a school-desk, the sides thereof having the forward and backratchet-teeth and the seat, in combination with the brackets supportingthe seat, fitting against the desksides and having the grooved-facedseparating bearing-plates overlapping and fitting against the desk-sidesand engaging with their grooved faces the ratchet-teeth of said sides,the removable independent strip I-Ibetween the seat and the desk-back,and the toothed irons or pawls h, carried by said strip and adapted tofit within the front bearing-plates and engage the forward ratchet-teethof the desk-sides, whereby the brackets are locked in position,substantially as described.

'7. In a school-desk, the vertically-adjust able brackets F, secured tothe desk-sides and the seat G, in combination with the pivoted links g,connecting the inner end of the seat with the brackets, and the shorterlinks g pivoted to said seat and brackets at points forward of therespective connections of the links g therewith, whereby the seat may beturned from a horizontal to a vertical position, its inner end fallingand its outer end rising, and fixed stops carried by the brackets forholding the seat in a horizontal position, substantially as described.

8. In a school-desk, the vertically-adjust able brackets I secured tothe desk-sides and the seat G, in combination with the pivoted links 9',connecting the inner end of the seat with the brackets, the shorterlinks g pivoted to said seat and brackets at points forward of therespective connections of the links g therewith, whereby said seat maybe turned from a horizontal to a vertical posit-ion, its

inner end falling and its outer end rising, and the fixed stops on theinner surface of the brackets against which the seat-irons adapted tofit in the spaces or openingsj of the ledges, substantially-asdescribed.

10. In a school-desk, the sides thereof having in their inner surfacesthe series of ledges J, with spaces or openings j, the series ofopenings K with offsets 7c in one of said sides, and the series ofguard-flanges L on the other side, in combination with the removable andadjustable foot-rest I, adapted to rest on the ledges, and having thelockingbar i on its under side adapted to fit in the spaces or openingsj of the ledges, substantially as described.

11. In a school-desk, the sides thereof having on their inner surfacesthe ledges J, with spaces or openings j, said ledges being arranged inlines in vertical series, the lines being inclined at different angleswith a horizontal plane, in combination With the removable andadjustable foot-rest I, adapted to rest on the ledges, and having thelockingbar 1T on its under side adapted to fit in the spaces or openingsj of the ledges, whereby said foot-rest may be-set at differentinclinations, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES H. TOWLE.

\Vitnesses:

G. W. WILsoN, E. J. WILsoN.

